As noted, I think the reason the press has grabbed a hold of this rumor is that when you think about product categories that Apple could get into, where there is significant room for product improvement (which is what Apple does best), while still offering them the ability to make big money, there are only a few options. The television set, btw, is not one of them. Although I'm sure Apple could sell more tv's than they could produce, they would need to either sell at such a high price so as not to negatively impact their computer pricing model or reduce their computer pricing model, which does not seem like something they would do. They're obviously going to give watches a shot, they've changed the phone market, they've done pretty well with laptops and desktop computers, made the tablet market. Cars? Why not? Tesla figured out how to get into a market that has been all but closed off from new companies (other than what is being produced in China). The thing I think they could, and are already, improve on is the energy sector. They're already paving the way to be a company run on renewable energy, so why not build that idea out further and help states, cities, other companies do the same thing. Or even go all the way down to the family home? Tesla is thinking this way, so I would not put it past Apple to have a similar thought. The only issue is it's not a sexy, design driven, category, much like they have stayed away from going into the telco business, because they "don't want to just be the pipeline". With all of Apple's money, they're going to need to figure out what's next beyond just the typical re-fresh of the existing lines. I'm not talking the next 2 to 5 years, but 10 years out or more, so cars might as well go on the list of potential Apple products.
Car out of that? 
